BOSS SDE-3

The BOSS SDE-3 is a dual digital delay in the familiar Boss compact pedal format, released in 2024. It carries the sound and core features of the Roland SDE-3000, the 1980s rackmount delay favored by many players, into a single compact box, and adds a second parallel delay line controlled by an Offset knob¹². Boss describes it as fusing "vintage digital character and wide-ranging versatility into one unique and inspiring BOSS compact pedal"¹. It went on sale at authorized U.S. Boss retailers in October 2024 for $219.99³.

What it does and how it is controlled

The SDE-3 runs two parallel delay lines, doubling down on the original Roland SDE-3000 sound⁵. Alongside the delay time, feedback and level controls, it has independent Rate and Depth knobs for the modulation section, a Hi Cut control for shaping the high-frequency content of the repeats, and a Carryover switch⁸⁹. Pressing and holding the pedal switch enables the tap tempo function¹.

The modulation is part of the SDE-3000 character. Boss says the pedal is "dripping with warmth and musicality" and can conjure moody, atmospheric tonalities for ambient, chill and lo-fi music¹. On Guitar Pedal X, reviewer Stefan Karlsson described his own preferred settings: "For my preferred settings I actually dial the Rate all the way back, and have the Depth set to 10 o'c - that sounds amaz"⁴.

The Offset knob and the second delay line

The Offset knob is the SDE-3's distinguishing feature, and it works in two halves of its range. Turning it up to its center position introduces a second delay that is 1 to 100 ms longer than the primary delay. In the second half of its range, the knob produces a shorter second delay based on the primary delay time, sweeping between eighth-note and dotted-eighth subdivisions⁷.

Bass Magazine's announcement explained the practical effect: the Offset knob "instantly adds a second delay to the primary delay, creating mono and stereo dual-delay tones including doubled sounds and timed dual delays with tap tempo control"¹⁰. Guitar Pedal X noted that Matt Knight was instrumental in setting the scope for the Offset function⁴.

Stereo, outputs and external control

The SDE-3 offers versatile output modes: stereo, wet/dry, and dry mute, in mono or stereo¹. There are two stereo delay options, panning and discrete stereo, so you can play with discrete left/right delays or a panning mode for ultra-wide sounds that move across the stereo field⁸. Guitar World's review lists the full connectivity: stereo in and out (inputs and outputs A and B), mono in and out (input and output A), power input, control input and MIDI in⁹.

External control is generous for a compact pedal:

• A jack for extended control with up to two footswitches or an expression pedal¹
• An expression pedal can control the Level, Feedback and Time knobs, for delay mix adjustment and wild pitch effects⁸
• External footswitches give on-demand access to tap tempo and a hold function for on-the-fly looping⁸
• A TRS MIDI input for syncing to external MIDI clock signals, which Boss says can sync the delay time with clock signals from DAWs, pedals and drum machines¹¹⁰

History: from the Roland SDE-3000 rack

The SDE-3 traces back to the Roland SDE-3000, a rackmount digital delay introduced in 1983 by Boss's parent company Roland¹¹¹². Boss marked the unit's 40th anniversary by relaunching it as the floor-based SDE-3000D and SDE-3000EVH, both described by the maker as faithful recreations of the legendary 1980s rack unit¹³¹⁴¹⁵. The SDE-3 then shrank that circuit down to compact proportions, with Guitar Pedal X describing it as Boss shrinking its SDE-3000 dual digital delay to compact SDE-3 size, featuring the smart Offset function and panning stereo output¹⁶¹⁷.

Boss's own masterclass article notes the pedal "even shares classic design elements, sporting a glossy black finish and vibrant blue font" with the original SDE-3000⁵.

How it differs from the SDE-3000D and SDE-3000EVH

The SDE-3000D is a stereo stompbox recreation of the vintage Roland rack delay with two inputs and two outputs for dual mono, wet/dry or stereo setups¹³. The SDE-3000EVH adds eight EVH presets carrying the exact settings from the two SDE-3000 delays in Eddie Van Halen's live rig, plus 92 user memories and an adjustable noise suppressor¹⁴. The SDE-3 is the compact option: no presets, as Delicious Audio pointed out ("While presets are entirely missing, all the signature tone features of the original SDE3000 are there"), but with the Offset knob and dual delay lines the rack-inspired pedals do not have¹⁸. The original rack unit offered 1 to 3000 ms of delay, longer than the SDE-3's 1600 ms mono maximum¹⁹⁷.

What reviewers said

Guitar.com's Josh Gardner reviewed the SDE-3 in November 2024 and summed up his verdict as "Wonderfully authentic SDE sounds", noting the up to 1600 ms of delay in mono mode and 800 ms in stereo, and the full quarter-inch stereo ins and outs plus a fifth jack for an expression pedal⁶. Guitar World's review listed "Great sounds" among its positives⁹. Pedal of the Day called it a pedal that "fuses vintage digital character and wide-ranging versatility"¹¹. Gearnews reported the pedal available at Thomann with delivery in two to three weeks, at the time of its September 2024 announcement¹⁶.

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